Merchandise ticket auditing machine



July 21, 1936. M, 'KLEIN 2,048,074

. MERCHANDISE TICKET AUDITING MACHINE Filed July 2l, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet1 M A #ww @X 4July 2l, 1936. M KLElN 2,048,074

MERCHANDISE TICKET AUDITING MACHIN Filed July 21, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented Jul-y 21', 1936 UNiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE MERCHANDISE TICKETAUDITING MACHINE Matthew Klein, Billings, Mont., assignor of onehalf toHart-Albin Company, 'a corporation of Montana This inventionrelates to amerchandise ticket auditing machine, and more particularly to thecontrol of the operations to be performed by the machine.

This invention relates to the mechanism dis-` closed in my two priorpatents granted June 25,

1929, and having Numbers 1,718,212 and 1,718,213. y

In these prior patents there is disclosed an apparatus that makes andclassiiies true records of sales transactions of merchandise sold, as indepartment stores.

these patents, the `ticket that is attached or associated with themerchandise being sold is inserted f into an appropriate opening in thecasing of the machineyand the operation of the machine is initiatedafter a control button is pressed by the operator. The mechanism is thenactuated to cut off a part of the ticket,-and to attach this part to abacking, supplied as from a roll. On

this backing can be printed supplemental data,4

such as the kind of sale, the clerk identioation, or rthe like. Afterthese supplemental data are added, the machine automatically depositsthe complete record into a selected compartment. `rIn the preferredform, oneof a series of cash drawers opens automatically, in order tomake it possible or the sales person to deposit the money taken in onthe sale, and to make the change t0A the customer, in case the sale is acash trans- Iaction.-

In these -prior forms, the machine can be caused to complete the cycleof operations without the insertion of a ticket, as by merely pressingthe control in which case the paper tape t0 which the ticket wouldnormally be attached is cut ofi and is deposited as an incompleterecord.

This indicates that the machine was operated Without an accompanyingtransaction; 40 Although this is in some instances advantageous asforming a means for the detection of unauthorized operation of themachine, yet it is one of the objects of my machine so to arrangematters that the machine cannot be operated unless the price ticket isinserted kwithin the machine.

It is another object of my invention to provide a device that compelsthe operator to cause the machine to record comp1etely,'all desiredfacts relating to the transaction.

In some instances, it is advisable yto combine the ticket auditingmachine with a cash register or totalizer machine. With the aid of mypresent .invention, the operation ofthe cash register or Thus in theforms disclosed in f such totaliz'er is prevented, unless a price tickehas been inserted into the machine.

The advantages of the use of a ticket auditing machine such as describedin my prior patents have been disclosed therein, and involves mainly thecertainty of securing accurate records of the sales transaction becausea part of the ticket is incorporated on the record. -There is thus nonecessity of any independent writing or printing by the operator, themachine automatically mak- 10 ing its own authorized record.

The ticket or price tag which is associated with, y and usually attachedto, merchandise offered for sale in department stores can carry completeinformation, such'as the selling price, cost, manu- 15 facturers filenumber, color, size, material, name of the article, department number,and manufacturer or the like. This record is authentically incorporatedwith the record collected by the machine, which can be used forstatistical records and proper control. Furthermore, this record isobtained rapidly and without any delay, since no transcription of thesales data need be made by the salesperson.Vv

It is another object of my invention to provide an electrical controlsystem, whereby this recording operation isaccomplished, but only inresponse to the insertion of a price ticket into an appropriate space inthe machine.

rMy invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objectswhich may be made more easily apparent from a consideration of oneembodiment of my invention. For this purpose I have shown a form in thedrawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. 35I shall now proceed to describe this form in detail, which illustratesthe general principles of my invention; but it is to be understood thatthis detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, sincethe scope of my invention is best 40 defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a diagram of a complete system for controlling the operationof the ticket auditing machine and any associated mechanism, such as 45l the parts shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along plane 4-'4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a front View of one of the switches incorporated in thesystem; and 55 Fig. 6 Ais a detail section taken along plane 6-6 of Fig.2.

In the present instance, it is considered unnecessary to detail thecomplete mechanism shown in my prior patents, and for that reason theticket auditing mechanism, as Well as an associated totalizer, are shownmerely diagrammatically by the reference characters II and I 2,.; Inorder. to i indicate a diagrammaticdrive-for these mechanisms, a shaftI3 is indicated, arranged to be driven in this instance by an electricmotor I4.:` An electromagnetic clutching deviceeililiisshovvn.Ainterposed between the motor and the mecha?. nisms I I and I2, saidclutch being electromagnetically controlled as by energizatiorrof-acoil-:I6;

The price ticket is indicated diagrammaticallyA` by the oblong Il. Thecontrol arrangement is such that when the price ticket 'is ,urgedvagainia, member I8 inside of the machine, a connectiorrisz, made between acontact I9 and another contact- 20,.:.sinoe Conisoi tip!!! isureedtoengage L,i1-.icoon responding Contenido- Whenrthesepontaots. I9.. one.29ers ,thus engaged. a CisCnit. is-.Completed bothftnronsn the motor.Meneiheoluton ,Coil Llli- Thiseeirouitean betrooed as follows.; Ylend2l. Conieioi` 2Q. Conteo.i -l 9,., Where the.. Circuit divides;

one part proCeedinspy lWay, of Connection 22..` ihr-ouentho .motor i 4and .by way of. connection 23. i toaiheother mein .2L Theeirouit iopthetoiptohf.

.. Coil .l Iiis Completed through a Connsection?5L coil.;

. heele., the contacts landlopeneven beforethe completecycle ofoperation ofmechanisms I I and l2.. In. order to .maintain .the LcircuitsY closed. through themotor Hand theclutchcoil I5 .untilH acomplete4 cycleof operationis periormedthere is provided -,amain switch;mechanism f placed ,inA parallel withV contacts V1I 8 and. 2 0,1 andwhichopens automatically upon ,the completion lof the, cycle... Thisswitch, is Y actuated, by the rotation .0f v shaft I3, the details beingclearly indicatedimFigs. 1; and 5.

Thus this ,switchy can Vinclude a. pair o1'. ,arcuate members 2l and 28of conducting materialformed; to provideontact surfaces. They-fare.shown.- ,asp supported upon astationarydnsulation member 28, Contactposts 30. and! extendingthrouchsaid support and 4forminglaconvenientmeans kfonias--` teningthesecontact arcs 21 and. tomemhenZS.;The v shaft I3 extends. throuehtho stationary sup. port ,29 and maybejournalledtherein. It Carries a contact arm ,51,,which,can.-beadiustablycfasg.- tenedstohshaft I3a s bylsetscrewjl. This9011-.. tact arm is made from insulating materialand carries acontactpiece 33 that cambridge contacts 21. and 28., This contact piece is.urged resilientlyY against themembers 21, and 28 asy bycompressionspring 34 which is accommodated ina recess'in.- the face of the arm 51;.Guidepins` 35.,.andr36 areattached to the, contact piece 33, andareguided in appropriate aperturesoin the arm 5'Ig.Y

It isuthusapparent thatafter ,therv circuitis Aiirst completed betweencontacts I9 and j20,the

contact piece 334 maintains the circuits `in closed positionerenafter-theseparation ofthe contacts I9 and 2. These contacts Y2I, 28-ar1l..33arekcptgI incngaeeinent forfthe whoiefcyoleof operation of themechanisms I I andv I2,,but. are ,nallygdisn connected bythemovementofarml onto animsulating segment 3I disposed in the pathofcon,tact., member 33.1.. Iii-.order .to startasucoeedins cycle, it isnecessary to reinsert another nricejiekgt such -4 as I'l, into themechanism. The same cycle of operations is performed, the mechanisms IIand I2 finally coming to rest when contact member 33 reaches theinsulating segment 31.

When the circuits are finally deenergized at the 5 completion of acycle, the clutch coil I6 is also deenergized and motor I4 isdisconnected from the shaft I3.

In Figs. 2, 3 and 4, I show one form that my auxiliary contact mechanismcan take, which is operated in response to the insertion of the priceticket ,l`I.`- It -is .to be understood, however, that thismechanismcould be varied to suit the circumstances, and could be applied to otherparts of thefrrniehinef` In this instancethe contact pieces are shown asassociated or supported on the rear of a stitcher head frame, 3B.;Thisstitcher head frame as disclosed in my prior patents, forms oneelement of a mechanism for attaching or stapling the severed portionoiineprioe ticket toasupportine backinst Attached@ thobockpf theirarne3m C. suitable bracket ,39 isprovideo- This. braeket can be attached tothe frame 38 as by means otheaded; bolts., rteppedintotne frame 3B.. andpassing 25,-, tnronehslots. .4 l. .in thebraolset .toperinit verticali.adjustment.. The twolegs of the. bracket A39 are... joined by ahorizontal extension 42. A support-l. insfblook. .oi .insulatingmaterial A,isfostened .op

theiowerside .of ,the .horizontalmenlber .42., and .ao

Carriesine Contact. post. .at .the endofwnioh this..A Contest 120. isformed., Tnis...ContaCt .post is. aci-,- instable, .ini the member.. as,by ,beine,.th.r.esded.. therein,n The `leadpor connection 45 iselectrically Conneeted thereto as. by ,the nut .4li-Y The..b1ools.43a1so.serves .to provide .a-guidolor. tho-.moverne t. of the,movable .Contact supportinsf. member-Il. Thismeniberl .is shown as.extend-,- ing.; oCrCsspne. ,sideof ,the block. 43.. Ithas guide.

pins, 41A .f an@ 48 .extending ihrouenappropriate 40 .5

5|. iendtokeepthe Contsots .end znapart. so. 45,;

that` When-,fthe ,priCe ,tiCketV .soon .as I1 is. ro-V moYed,...theContaot opens However., themeohaf. nisinissiieii that .there is siimitio the, opening.. movement,.as, bythe `aid of a member ,52fastened4i tothe, upper side of the horizontal .member ,42 andsoengaging'in a transverse, flat bottom slot in them end of oneof the`pins 4`Ithe freedom of motion of4 this pin beingjlimitedlby the extentof the slot In the'lpresent instance, the s titcrher heads also guide,the movement of a vertically movable ,blad/eu 55.

on-punch. 53, for severingthe price ticket. ThisH punchis varrangedtoproceed downwardlyV befY tween the stationary cutters 54 and A55(FigA)I It is of course tofbe understood that atape,V such as 56 caribefed underneath the ticket Il, 60, which after the severing operation ismoved away fromstitcher mechanism. That part of thetape,

56 to vvvhichthe severed portion of ticket I`I is attached is later cutoir and deposited with its complete record inan appropriate receptacle,formf g. ing a part of the mechanism I I,'all as clearly disclosed in myprior patent.

A-rsum of the operationof my system cannow befsetnforth.. The-personImaking-thesale depresses theproper keys, such as the amount keys', 70,Lkind of sale key, etc., all forming a part ortheh mechanisms indicatedinFig. 1 diagrammatically by ,reference characters II and I2; Hewilltheninsert ,the price tag or ticket II yinto the openingforlncd.bei'fvveen.thev upper blade 53 andthe lower75 e,

stationary blade 54, 55. The pressure of the price ticket against themember IB causes an engagement of contacts I9 and 20. This closes themotor circuit, as well as the clutch coil circuit. The arm 51 is thenrotated away from the insulating segment 31, so as to keep the circuitclosed even after the price ticket I1 progresses beyond the mechanismindicated in Figs. 2, 3, and 4. When the machine completes its cycle,the arm 51 will have rotated so far that the contact plate 33 will restupon the insulating member 31. Thereupon the circuit is opened, theclutch released, and the motor I4 deenergized.

I claim:

1. In combination, a mechanism for performing an auditing operation on aprice ticket, said mechanism having provisions to receive and retain atleast a part of the ticket by the aid of a cycle of operations duringwhich the retained material is moved away from the place where it is rstreceived, means operated in response to the insertion of the priceticket into the mechanism for initiating the auditing operation thereof,and means ensuring that the mechanism completes one cycle only of theoperations once said cycle is begun.

2. In combination, a mechanism for performing an auditing operation on aprice ticket, said mechanism having provisions to receive and retain atleast a part of the ticket by the aid of a cycle of operations duringwhich the retained material is moved away from the place where it is rstreceived, an electric motor for driving said mechanism, an electricallyoperated clutch for the motor, means operated in response to theinsertion of the price ticket into the mechanism for energizing both themotor and the clutch, and means ensuring that both the motor and theclutch is kept operating so that the mechanism completes one cycle onlyof the auditing operations once said cycle is begun.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2, in which the ensuring meansis a control switch, operated by the motor and serving to complete themotor and clutch circuit as soon as the mechanism is started.

MATTHEW KLEIN.

